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I and You
It is the year 2098. Sara Storm has just come of age in a republic founded upon the objectivist principles of Ayn Rand - selfishness, minimal government, and laissez faire capitalism. It is a society in which the collectivist pronoun "we" has been replaced with the ideologically correct "I and you." A true believer in the ideals of her nation, Sara launches her military career with zeal and great dreams for her future. But the world outside the classroom fails to live up to the one she has been taught to expect. Real people fail to behave like the heroes in Rand's books or in the science fiction stories she loves. She notices cracks deepening in the nation that bills itself as the beacon for all mankind. Winds of change start to howl through the "skyscraper society" of her republic and strange sounds begin to emanate from the Earth itself. Suddenly her world, her career, and her own dreams no longer fit into the narrow confines of Rand's ideology. Neither does love.
212 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
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213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 6, 2016
Atlas Eviscerated
Full disclosure: There is no writer on earth I loathe more passionately than the unspeakably iniquitous, philosophically sick and spiritually toxic Ayn Rand, whose deranged, narcissistic, sociopathic economic acolytes have now virtually destroyed this country. I could rant more vituperatively and still not express the depth of my loathing, but you get the idea.
So I would greet with utter glee any effective send-up of her psychopathological world view.
But this graphic novel, which really defies characterization, is so much more than that. Yes, it effectively deconstructs and demolishes Rand, but it does so through the eyes of one of her brainwashed devout apostles (Sara) in a dystopian future Randian Objectivist Republic (which, truthfully, might as well be tomorrow, because all of its excesses are merely the ones we can observe around us)... but a very human and sympathetic brainwashed apostle who comes finally to confront the fatal corruption of the Weltanschauung she's always devoutly embraced. It's the gradual and believable psychological meltdown and redemption of the escapee from a cult -- or one whose cult has dissolved around her. And it's gripping. But it's also a love story, a mordantly funny and intriguingly complex geopolitical mystery story... and it's page-turning throughout. There are all manner of "don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-them" clever, occult (sometimes multilingual) digs at corporations, government and the media. (One newscaster's name is "Mentira.") The author turns the right's penchant for bullying wordplay back on itself with a vengeance.
This is not the sort of thing you would expect of a comic book... er, graphic novel. I've read fewer than a dozen graphic novels, and the emphasis was always on the (sometimes wonderful) art, and a storyline barely limned by minimalist dialogue. This 205-page opus was the antithesis of that prevailing model. It's not for children or semiliterate adults. It's alternatingly wicked, funny, cerebral, romantic and... just thoroughly satisfying as a reductio ad absurdum of the pathology of Randian objectivist thinking. The minimalist, woodcut-style art of the talented illustrator enhances the emphasis on the storyline, and the dialogue is anything but minimalist. If you hate Rand, you'll love it. If you don't know who Rand is, you'll still love it. If you hate graphic novels, well, you'll still want to make this one exception. If you're a cognitively dualistic, confirmed acolyte of the Tea Party... well, you deserve what you get.
Full disclosure: There is no writer on earth I loathe more passionately than the unspeakably iniquitous, philosophically sick and spiritually toxic Ayn Rand, whose deranged, narcissistic, sociopathic economic acolytes have now virtually destroyed this country. I could rant more vituperatively and still not express the depth of my loathing, but you get the idea.
So I would greet with utter glee any effective send-up of her psychopathological world view.
But this graphic novel, which really defies characterization, is so much more than that. Yes, it effectively deconstructs and demolishes Rand, but it does so through the eyes of one of her brainwashed devout apostles (Sara) in a dystopian future Randian Objectivist Republic (which, truthfully, might as well be tomorrow, because all of its excesses are merely the ones we can observe around us)... but a very human and sympathetic brainwashed apostle who comes finally to confront the fatal corruption of the Weltanschauung she's always devoutly embraced. It's the gradual and believable psychological meltdown and redemption of the escapee from a cult -- or one whose cult has dissolved around her. And it's gripping. But it's also a love story, a mordantly funny and intriguingly complex geopolitical mystery story... and it's page-turning throughout. There are all manner of "don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-them" clever, occult (sometimes multilingual) digs at corporations, government and the media. (One newscaster's name is "Mentira.") The author turns the right's penchant for bullying wordplay back on itself with a vengeance.
This is not the sort of thing you would expect of a comic book... er, graphic novel. I've read fewer than a dozen graphic novels, and the emphasis was always on the (sometimes wonderful) art, and a storyline barely limned by minimalist dialogue. This 205-page opus was the antithesis of that prevailing model. It's not for children or semiliterate adults. It's alternatingly wicked, funny, cerebral, romantic and... just thoroughly satisfying as a reductio ad absurdum of the pathology of Randian objectivist thinking. The minimalist, woodcut-style art of the talented illustrator enhances the emphasis on the storyline, and the dialogue is anything but minimalist. If you hate Rand, you'll love it. If you don't know who Rand is, you'll still love it. If you hate graphic novels, well, you'll still want to make this one exception. If you're a cognitively dualistic, confirmed acolyte of the Tea Party... well, you deserve what you get.
February 20, 2015
I and You takes place in a society which values are seriously messed up according to, I'd like to think, most of us - "selfishness, greed and unbridled ego" are its pillars. In this world, people have their own personal shrine and never use the pronoun 'we'. Only individual goals matter and if you even so much as consider thinking outside the box, you risk serious consequences, particularly being turned away when you want to get a job and get on with your own life.
That is the premise for this dystopian graphical novel. An interesting concept, depicted in black and white, much as the views of that society. It's hard to know where to draw the line, though.
I found it hard to read some of the lines because the font size and style kept changing, even on a computer I would have to zoom in further than 100% at times.
Some typos annoyed me, pet peeves of mine like "it's" instead of "its" and "you're" instead of "your" and other stuff like "didn't used". But overall there weren't too many errors.
It's a graphic novel, one cannot expect to feel as involved with the characters as written novel. But I have to admit I was a tad confused. There were a lot of entities and people involved, and some of the latter kind of looked all the same to me, not sure if because of black and white or because of the drawings themselves, possibly both. Even if the black and white was kept, which as I said previously goes very well with the story, I wish there had been more specific traits about each character. I kept mistaking Sarah's dad for her brother and then Warren, for instant. Sarah's mother also looked like a couple other characters that showed up.
All in all, it's a though provoking book. I enjoyed how there wasn't an obvious and sudden leap in change of values of the main character, it was all very progressive. And I loved the whales.
I do however think that even though the concept is intriguing, you have to be a true fan of graphic novels to fully appreciate the book.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in echange for my honest review.
That is the premise for this dystopian graphical novel. An interesting concept, depicted in black and white, much as the views of that society. It's hard to know where to draw the line, though.
I found it hard to read some of the lines because the font size and style kept changing, even on a computer I would have to zoom in further than 100% at times.
Some typos annoyed me, pet peeves of mine like "it's" instead of "its" and "you're" instead of "your" and other stuff like "didn't used". But overall there weren't too many errors.
It's a graphic novel, one cannot expect to feel as involved with the characters as written novel. But I have to admit I was a tad confused. There were a lot of entities and people involved, and some of the latter kind of looked all the same to me, not sure if because of black and white or because of the drawings themselves, possibly both. Even if the black and white was kept, which as I said previously goes very well with the story, I wish there had been more specific traits about each character. I kept mistaking Sarah's dad for her brother and then Warren, for instant. Sarah's mother also looked like a couple other characters that showed up.
All in all, it's a though provoking book. I enjoyed how there wasn't an obvious and sudden leap in change of values of the main character, it was all very progressive. And I loved the whales.
I do however think that even though the concept is intriguing, you have to be a true fan of graphic novels to fully appreciate the book.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in echange for my honest review.
November 8, 2014
This was most definitely a very intriguing book.
First and foremost, this book is a graphic novel. While I don't normally read graphic novels, the description of the book caught my interest, and I decided to give it a go.
I am SO glad I gave it a try!
This story is intriguing. Beverly Garside started to write this story with certain events in mind, and this is what could potentially happen to America in the future.
The story also focused on the concept of "I and you". There is no more "we" in this dystopian world, only "I and you". It was a bit confusing at first, but then it all started to click in. Things were starting to individualize. People started to become individualized. The America that we know of today has been split into two: one that focused on the military, and one that was more... liberal (for lack of better wording).
The story was confusing at first, but it all started to make sense as things progressed. My God, the symbolism in this book is amazing! There's so much, and they are intentionally put there to make you think (in my strong and honest opinion). Not only that, but there are events in the story that ties into an event that has already happened in history, and it makes you want to search things up and get more background information for yourself. The ideas presented in this book make you think. This dystopian world is extremely unique yet realistic, and it is obvious in every page that this world was very well-thought out.
The characters are also realistic. There are the characters you can't stand, the characters you love, and the characters you could relate to. It's all in there, put into one, thought-provoking book. The story of the characters are also interesting. They are good, and you just want to keep reading to find out what happens to every one of them. Almost all of them hold their own demons and secrets and have a background story that captivates the reader.
Overall, I was happy with this book. Again, it's a graphic novel, so it's also a somewhat quick read. I read it in one sitting, but maybe it's also because I loved it so much.
And you thought graphic novels weren't this interesting!
Check out more things related to this book at: http://www.beverlygarside.com/home/
http://bookswithacupoftea.weebly.com/...
First and foremost, this book is a graphic novel. While I don't normally read graphic novels, the description of the book caught my interest, and I decided to give it a go.
I am SO glad I gave it a try!
This story is intriguing. Beverly Garside started to write this story with certain events in mind, and this is what could potentially happen to America in the future.
The story also focused on the concept of "I and you". There is no more "we" in this dystopian world, only "I and you". It was a bit confusing at first, but then it all started to click in. Things were starting to individualize. People started to become individualized. The America that we know of today has been split into two: one that focused on the military, and one that was more... liberal (for lack of better wording).
The story was confusing at first, but it all started to make sense as things progressed. My God, the symbolism in this book is amazing! There's so much, and they are intentionally put there to make you think (in my strong and honest opinion). Not only that, but there are events in the story that ties into an event that has already happened in history, and it makes you want to search things up and get more background information for yourself. The ideas presented in this book make you think. This dystopian world is extremely unique yet realistic, and it is obvious in every page that this world was very well-thought out.
The characters are also realistic. There are the characters you can't stand, the characters you love, and the characters you could relate to. It's all in there, put into one, thought-provoking book. The story of the characters are also interesting. They are good, and you just want to keep reading to find out what happens to every one of them. Almost all of them hold their own demons and secrets and have a background story that captivates the reader.
Overall, I was happy with this book. Again, it's a graphic novel, so it's also a somewhat quick read. I read it in one sitting, but maybe it's also because I loved it so much.
And you thought graphic novels weren't this interesting!
Check out more things related to this book at: http://www.beverlygarside.com/home/
http://bookswithacupoftea.weebly.com/...
March 22, 2015
Sara Storm lives a privileged life in Boise, the Randian Republic of Atlantis, appropriately enough situated in the Rocky Mountains. There, Randian principles control the economy and society. If you have enough money, you can afford an education, police protection, ambulance service, and entrance to Boise (city as gated community). Each child makes a "personal shrine" dedicated to her or his own greatness, featuring a bust, degrees, and awards. At the same time, debasing oneself by participating in clandestine team sports can get one expelled from Galt University. Greatness can only be achieved alone, never together.
Sara has just been graduated from the Wyatt Intelligence Services Cadet Class 1A7 of 2098, and her life mission is "to save the rational universe from the leeching socialist collectives", but her father (a successful business executive) warns her, much to her surprise, to "watch her back". Her assignment at Wyatt is to supervise a clandestine international surveillance team known as the "Bug Squad", the job of which is to spy on other nations and their leaders. Sara is horrified to discover, however, that her staff consists of undesirables from outside the city. Her disillusionment begins when she is told those employees are necessary to remain competitive with larger corporations.
Sara is a true believer, despising those who sacrifice themselves on the altar of collectivism. "This is why the RRA was founded," she says to her staff, "because I and all [Randian for "we"] have enough problems of mine and your ["our"] own without being made responsible for everybody else's!"
Then love and circumstances combine to change her views, and her character grows.
I won't spoil the rest, but I will say that this is a well-thought-out dystopia with interesting and entertaining responses to the Randian ideal. Ms. Garside's Air Force experience in Berlin in the 'Eighties brings her depiction of a tense military border to life. The graphics are simple, and sometimes it is not easy to tell black-haired men apart, but the dialogue and story enabled me to distinguish them quickly. Despite minor technical challenges, anyone with an interest in Rand or economic dystopias will find this work worth reading.
"I sometimes wondered what it would be like to drive on the first-class roads."
Sara has just been graduated from the Wyatt Intelligence Services Cadet Class 1A7 of 2098, and her life mission is "to save the rational universe from the leeching socialist collectives", but her father (a successful business executive) warns her, much to her surprise, to "watch her back". Her assignment at Wyatt is to supervise a clandestine international surveillance team known as the "Bug Squad", the job of which is to spy on other nations and their leaders. Sara is horrified to discover, however, that her staff consists of undesirables from outside the city. Her disillusionment begins when she is told those employees are necessary to remain competitive with larger corporations.
Sara is a true believer, despising those who sacrifice themselves on the altar of collectivism. "This is why the RRA was founded," she says to her staff, "because I and all [Randian for "we"] have enough problems of mine and your ["our"] own without being made responsible for everybody else's!"
Then love and circumstances combine to change her views, and her character grows.
I won't spoil the rest, but I will say that this is a well-thought-out dystopia with interesting and entertaining responses to the Randian ideal. Ms. Garside's Air Force experience in Berlin in the 'Eighties brings her depiction of a tense military border to life. The graphics are simple, and sometimes it is not easy to tell black-haired men apart, but the dialogue and story enabled me to distinguish them quickly. Despite minor technical challenges, anyone with an interest in Rand or economic dystopias will find this work worth reading.
"I sometimes wondered what it would be like to drive on the first-class roads."
June 17, 2017
After reading a number of reviews, I decided to try this graphic novel and proposed it for a book discussion group I belong to (we hadn't read a graphic novel to that date). After all, who doesn't like to see Ayn Rand's ideas "eviscerated"?
Sadly, the book failed spectacularly and is probably the worst book our group has read over the past 30 months or so.
One obvious failing is the artwork - all the characters look pretty much the same. There are a number of scenes where it is difficult to determine if the male character is the brother, father, fiancé, or lover. The female characters get off a bit better because at least they can have different hair. Of course, this is not the author's fault.
However, the story is not engaging. The protagonist is quite unbelievable. Having been raised in a Randian utopia, she espouses the virtues of greed, selfishness and self-interest - except, she doesn't.
Right after graduation, she goes to buy a car and is upset by the self-interest of the car dealer in wanting to sell her the car he wants to sell, not the car she wants to buy. But, she should already know that self-interest is what drives and motivates people.
This continues throughout the book, for example, she is also upset by her fiancé's interest in partying with other women instead of focusing on their upcoming wedding.
The protagonist's character would have been more believable had she been a firm devotee of Rand in a non-Randian world and had entered into this Randian utopia and discovered it was not quite the world she imagined. However, given she grew up in this environment and espoused the ideals, it is hard to believe that after graduation, her eyes are suddenly opened to the self-centered imperfection of the society.
The only thing I thought was well done in he story was the Randian society's approach toward an impending military conflict and the way it was handled.
Otherwise, the story would have been much more believable if the protagonist was an outsider who discovered that her utopia was not what she believed it to be.
Sadly, the book failed spectacularly and is probably the worst book our group has read over the past 30 months or so.
One obvious failing is the artwork - all the characters look pretty much the same. There are a number of scenes where it is difficult to determine if the male character is the brother, father, fiancé, or lover. The female characters get off a bit better because at least they can have different hair. Of course, this is not the author's fault.
However, the story is not engaging. The protagonist is quite unbelievable. Having been raised in a Randian utopia, she espouses the virtues of greed, selfishness and self-interest - except, she doesn't.
Right after graduation, she goes to buy a car and is upset by the self-interest of the car dealer in wanting to sell her the car he wants to sell, not the car she wants to buy. But, she should already know that self-interest is what drives and motivates people.
This continues throughout the book, for example, she is also upset by her fiancé's interest in partying with other women instead of focusing on their upcoming wedding.
The protagonist's character would have been more believable had she been a firm devotee of Rand in a non-Randian world and had entered into this Randian utopia and discovered it was not quite the world she imagined. However, given she grew up in this environment and espoused the ideals, it is hard to believe that after graduation, her eyes are suddenly opened to the self-centered imperfection of the society.
The only thing I thought was well done in he story was the Randian society's approach toward an impending military conflict and the way it was handled.
Otherwise, the story would have been much more believable if the protagonist was an outsider who discovered that her utopia was not what she believed it to be.
January 6, 2018
Warrig en vooral saai verhaal, zowel qua tekst als tekeningen... In twee woorden: enorme tijdverspilling!
October 24, 2017
This is a fun look at the different spectrum of politics and how far your opponents will go to prove your ideals false. The people that agree with the authors point of view will love it, the ones that disagree will think it a comic. It is a graphic novel. As a person that has run for office before, I enjoyed it and thought that it was a fun way to read about politics in today's society. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy. all opinions are my own.
March 8, 2015
An excellent read.
Before I gush all over this book, two quick caveats.
It is a graphic novel and it is a comment on Atlas Shrugged and Objectivism.
If you are the type of person that cannot stand any type of criticism of either Ayn Rand or Objectivism, then do not read this book unless you want to be irritated very badly. However, if you love a good debate even when you don't agree, then you are going to love I and You.
If you do not like graphic novels, read this one anyway because it is that good.
I and You takes the other side of the coin of Atlas Shrugged and asks what happens if Objectivism actually won the day. What does the world look like and does everyone end up a winner; it does an excellent job of answering the question. This world is all about me first, how much can you grab for yourself, and how far can you go. In this world "we" is removed from the lexicon (nice nod to we the Living .) The story centers on Sara Storm a graduate embarking on her life. Sara is a true believer and learns how the world is not what she thought.
This is a tightly written book that does not leave the reader wanting, except for more.
As I mentioned, this is a graphic novel and Lucas Duimstra's art work is perfect with the dialogue. The art is done in an intense black and white yet simple style that promotes both the feeling of the written dialogue as well as the mood the book is trying to convey. The art portrays a spartan lifestyle without being spartan itself. The art is the perfect companion to the written word and does not overwhelm the story as some graphic novels have happen.
I read I and You in two sittings only because I had to go to work the next day. I was knocked flat and this is a great first book. I highly recommend it to both friends and those I want to needle.
Great read!
Before I gush all over this book, two quick caveats.
It is a graphic novel and it is a comment on Atlas Shrugged and Objectivism.
If you are the type of person that cannot stand any type of criticism of either Ayn Rand or Objectivism, then do not read this book unless you want to be irritated very badly. However, if you love a good debate even when you don't agree, then you are going to love I and You.
If you do not like graphic novels, read this one anyway because it is that good.
I and You takes the other side of the coin of Atlas Shrugged and asks what happens if Objectivism actually won the day. What does the world look like and does everyone end up a winner; it does an excellent job of answering the question. This world is all about me first, how much can you grab for yourself, and how far can you go. In this world "we" is removed from the lexicon (nice nod to we the Living .) The story centers on Sara Storm a graduate embarking on her life. Sara is a true believer and learns how the world is not what she thought.
This is a tightly written book that does not leave the reader wanting, except for more.
As I mentioned, this is a graphic novel and Lucas Duimstra's art work is perfect with the dialogue. The art is done in an intense black and white yet simple style that promotes both the feeling of the written dialogue as well as the mood the book is trying to convey. The art portrays a spartan lifestyle without being spartan itself. The art is the perfect companion to the written word and does not overwhelm the story as some graphic novels have happen.
I read I and You in two sittings only because I had to go to work the next day. I was knocked flat and this is a great first book. I highly recommend it to both friends and those I want to needle.
Great read!
October 20, 2014
I received a copy of "I and You" in exchange for an honest review.
Beverly was kind enough to provide me with a physical hard copy which I very much enjoyed.
What an interesting story.
First, I really enjoyed the style of art employed in this graphic novel. It lends a certain ambiance to the story that, to me, really helped move me through the various stages of the plot.
Second, this being my first graphic novel, I very much enjoyed how the characters were developed through their dialogue and own thoughts versus being told what I'm supposed to think of them by a narrator. Very cool.
The story itself had me Googling all kinds of things, as I'm not all that familiar with Ayn Rand, nor political satire as a writing tool. To say that I learned alot would be an understatement. I appreciated that the author included a map in the book to really ensure a strong grasp of the division within the North American continent in the new "capitalist" world.
I won't go into too much detail with regard to the actual story, but the premise is a young woman who grows up with certain beliefs, certain assumptions, certain respect for the world around her. As the novel progresses, these deeply engrained values are challenged, and the main character is left picking up some pieces of understanding in a world and society that she previously had subscribed to. Nobody, and nothing, are what they seem.
It is worth mentioning that at the time of perusing this graphic novel, I was also attempting to read 1984. I read the first three chapters and then moved all of my attention to "You and I".
For me, it was a more interesting, more engrossing story that I did not want to put down.
Beverly was kind enough to provide me with a physical hard copy which I very much enjoyed.
What an interesting story.
First, I really enjoyed the style of art employed in this graphic novel. It lends a certain ambiance to the story that, to me, really helped move me through the various stages of the plot.
Second, this being my first graphic novel, I very much enjoyed how the characters were developed through their dialogue and own thoughts versus being told what I'm supposed to think of them by a narrator. Very cool.
The story itself had me Googling all kinds of things, as I'm not all that familiar with Ayn Rand, nor political satire as a writing tool. To say that I learned alot would be an understatement. I appreciated that the author included a map in the book to really ensure a strong grasp of the division within the North American continent in the new "capitalist" world.
I won't go into too much detail with regard to the actual story, but the premise is a young woman who grows up with certain beliefs, certain assumptions, certain respect for the world around her. As the novel progresses, these deeply engrained values are challenged, and the main character is left picking up some pieces of understanding in a world and society that she previously had subscribed to. Nobody, and nothing, are what they seem.
It is worth mentioning that at the time of perusing this graphic novel, I was also attempting to read 1984. I read the first three chapters and then moved all of my attention to "You and I".
For me, it was a more interesting, more engrossing story that I did not want to put down.
September 17, 2014
I received this ebook for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book definitely makes you think. It's a very possible future. I really enjoyed it.
On the one side is the people who read books like "The Virtue of Selfishness." On the other side is 'Big Brother," where the government takes taxes and provides help if needed.
The main character, Sara Storm, has just graduated and is starting her new job as supervisor of a viewing crew, which is basically a spying operation. She is a very strong supporter of her country's philosophies. She is focused on her job, her future, and herself. She's got a boyfriend who has an appropriate job.
But then her brother starts acting weird. And she meets someone new, someone she can talk to, but someone who has a secret. And her job lets her know things, secrets that no one else knows. And when she is betrayed, she starts wondering, is this way of life really the best way of life?
Because the individual is elevated above the group, the word 'we' is regarded as improper, so instead they say "I and you" (hence, the title.) That did cause a bit of flow problems, because those words aren't usually used together, especially not so much, so when I was reading, my mind kept stumbling and needing to slow down and reread it. But I found it easier to adjust to after a while.
And I really loved the whales.
This book definitely makes you think. It's a very possible future. I really enjoyed it.
On the one side is the people who read books like "The Virtue of Selfishness." On the other side is 'Big Brother," where the government takes taxes and provides help if needed.
The main character, Sara Storm, has just graduated and is starting her new job as supervisor of a viewing crew, which is basically a spying operation. She is a very strong supporter of her country's philosophies. She is focused on her job, her future, and herself. She's got a boyfriend who has an appropriate job.
But then her brother starts acting weird. And she meets someone new, someone she can talk to, but someone who has a secret. And her job lets her know things, secrets that no one else knows. And when she is betrayed, she starts wondering, is this way of life really the best way of life?
Because the individual is elevated above the group, the word 'we' is regarded as improper, so instead they say "I and you" (hence, the title.) That did cause a bit of flow problems, because those words aren't usually used together, especially not so much, so when I was reading, my mind kept stumbling and needing to slow down and reread it. But I found it easier to adjust to after a while.
And I really loved the whales.
May 31, 2015
I and You is the first graphic novel I read and I must say it was a nice change from the books I normally read. I liked looking at the drawings and in a weird way it brought me back to my childhood days when the pictures were just as important as the words.
The story itself was interesting and thought-provoking (as you might expect from the summary). I dove into it with an open mind and at times found myself immersed in the plot, but at other times I was a little lost. I don't know if this was due to the fact that I'm not used to reading graphic novels or if it was the book itself. Luckily, I was usually able to get back on track, it just didn't flow the way a written book does. Perhaps people who read comic books on a regular basis don't have this type of problem.
Overall, it was an intriguing political satire with a little bit of everything, including some romance and the unexpected twist. The illustrations were perfect and the characters were well developed.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
October 7, 2014
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Beverly Garside's book I and You is a graphic novel or you can say comic book. It is not my genre but I am sure there are many who love this type of book. The main character is Sara Storm. Due to the new way the states are now she has to learn about new ideals, life and love. The word "we" is no longer allowed to be used. The only ones that the people are allowed to use is "I" and "You". The main purpose in life is to pursue one's own happiness and basically act for one's self. This book is a good fantasy satire and I know that those who enjoy satire would love to read it. It will make you laugh and it is thought provoking. I recommend it. I do look forward to more from Beverly Garside.
Beverly Garside's book I and You is a graphic novel or you can say comic book. It is not my genre but I am sure there are many who love this type of book. The main character is Sara Storm. Due to the new way the states are now she has to learn about new ideals, life and love. The word "we" is no longer allowed to be used. The only ones that the people are allowed to use is "I" and "You". The main purpose in life is to pursue one's own happiness and basically act for one's self. This book is a good fantasy satire and I know that those who enjoy satire would love to read it. It will make you laugh and it is thought provoking. I recommend it. I do look forward to more from Beverly Garside.
November 9, 2014
* I received the book in exchange of an honest review*
This is the first graphic book I've read and it's cool. The illustrations were very nice and I enjoyed it.
My fav was Robbie, he just didn't follow what has been there and what was taught. He followed his opinion and believed in it, that's what I liked about it.
Sara was opposite of Robbie and had high idealistic ideas but she was oblivious to most of things but she saw it in the end and got her own beliefs. I loved the ending, it was just perfect and left me satisfied.
And Marc was on my least fav list, I just think of an idiot.
I liked the story and the change of mind of Sara, the real face of who she was serving for. It's good, I enjoyed it.
This is the first graphic book I've read and it's cool. The illustrations were very nice and I enjoyed it.
My fav was Robbie, he just didn't follow what has been there and what was taught. He followed his opinion and believed in it, that's what I liked about it.
Sara was opposite of Robbie and had high idealistic ideas but she was oblivious to most of things but she saw it in the end and got her own beliefs. I loved the ending, it was just perfect and left me satisfied.
And Marc was on my least fav list, I just think of an idiot.
I liked the story and the change of mind of Sara, the real face of who she was serving for. It's good, I enjoyed it.
February 21, 2016
Started September 19th...
February 13, 2015
What I liked: The images on the cover actually are images within the story, which I thought was an interesting incorporation and there's the fact that there's a bit of real possibility within the future for this kind of society. There's also plenty of pieces that you have to put together about the society's values and at first I didn't understand the "I and you" thing, but it's actually something that is a big deal in Sara's nation. I also didn't understand the idea behind having a personal shrine but later I understood it was a custom in her country and became more significant as well.
What I didn't like: Sometimes I found it hard to tell characters apart due to the similar looks between the different characters and the fact that the story was strictly black/white colored made it even harder to tell characters apart since things happen so quickly in the book. I managed to get Sara's father and brother mixed up in one particular scene and it took a few rereads to understand that part. Some of the characters it was easy to tell how they were going to be simply because of the way they acted in the story so they weren't overall surprising with the reveals about what happens to them.
Overall Review: This was a quick, fun read about one of the infinite possibilities about what could really happen in to the U.S.A.'s future and I found it very entertaining and plausible. The characters weren't always that interesting, but I did enjoy Sara's character quite a lot as she was always trying to do what she thought was best for her country. I thought that the way we were shown how things were now was good, and we got a small glimpse about the world outside the former U.S.A. to see how everything is still happening outside.
Recommend?: For fans of graphic novels who like dystopian novels, you'll likely like this one as it was an entertaining read!
What I didn't like: Sometimes I found it hard to tell characters apart due to the similar looks between the different characters and the fact that the story was strictly black/white colored made it even harder to tell characters apart since things happen so quickly in the book. I managed to get Sara's father and brother mixed up in one particular scene and it took a few rereads to understand that part. Some of the characters it was easy to tell how they were going to be simply because of the way they acted in the story so they weren't overall surprising with the reveals about what happens to them.
Overall Review: This was a quick, fun read about one of the infinite possibilities about what could really happen in to the U.S.A.'s future and I found it very entertaining and plausible. The characters weren't always that interesting, but I did enjoy Sara's character quite a lot as she was always trying to do what she thought was best for her country. I thought that the way we were shown how things were now was good, and we got a small glimpse about the world outside the former U.S.A. to see how everything is still happening outside.
Recommend?: For fans of graphic novels who like dystopian novels, you'll likely like this one as it was an entertaining read!
February 27, 2016
Check out the trailers for this book on my author page here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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